Paragraph one reads: "A man shot dead by police outside a cathedral may have wanted to be killed, an inquest heard today."

Paragraph eight reads: "Mr Sycamore was taking anti-depressants and made an attempt to take his life 17 years previously, the inquest heard. He had also told an ex-girlfriend shortly before his death that he wanted to die.

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'Death wish' of cathedral man shot by police

Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent
17.08.09

A man shot dead by police outside a cathedral may have wanted to be killed, an inquest heard today.

Officers were called to Guildford Cathedral after David Sycamore, 39, told a member of the public he was going to "start shooting people".

He was seen pulling out what was thought to be a handgun. The administrative assistant, who lived nearby with his parents, was shot in the chest and arm by two Surrey Police officers as he sat on the steps.

It was later discovered that his 8mm gun could only fire blanks.

Mr Sycamore was pronounced dead at the scene, an inquest at Surrey coroner's court heard. Cause of death was the gunshot wound to his chest, said pathologist Robert Chapman.

Coroner Michael Burgess said a police officer visiting Mr Sycamore's parents' home after his death recalled his mother saying: "He's done it on purpose. He had been saying he was going to get himself shot."

Mr Sycamore's brother Mark said he could not remember that conversation, however, only that his mother had broken down in tears after being told her son was dead.

Mr Sycamore was taking anti-depressants and made an attempt to take his life 17 years previously, the inquest heard. He had also told an ex-girlfriend shortly before his death that he wanted to die.

The inquest was told that on the afternoon of Sunday, 30 November last year, Mr Sycamore approached a member of the public on the Park Barn housing estate and showed him his gun.

It was alleged that Mr Sycamore said he was going to start killing people, the inquest heard, and it was believed he then walked to the cathedral.

Two armed response teams were called and saw Mr Sycamore sitting on the steps.

The inquest was told he was believed to have then pulled out a handgun and made a motion, as if to cock it.

One baton round and two shots were fired, with one smashing through a cathedral window.

Mr Sycamore's former girlfriend Claire Hamilton described how he phoned her the night before, saying: "You won't be hearing from me any more. I'm going to do it."

The inquest in Woking continues.